A Clearwater man stopped in Groveland for an expired license tag was arrested after telling the officer who pulled him over he had marijuana in his vehicle.
Abraham Alex Zaman, 29, was charged with possession of cannabis (more than 20 grams) and drug paraphernalia. He was stopped around 9:41 p.m. on Cherry Landing Drive after an officer observed him driving a silver Mitsubishi with an expired tag, according to an arrest report from the Groveland Police Department.
Zaman reportedly tried to get out of his vehicle while it was coming to a stop, but the officer told him to remain inside. Zaman sat back down with the door still open, the report said.
While approaching the vehicle, the officer detected a strong odor of burnt as well as fresh marijuana. Zaman spontaneously uttered “I got a little bit of weed, yeah I smoke,” the report said.
After admitting the possibility of marijuana within the vehicle, his abnormal actions and the odor of marijuana, the officer took Zaman out of the vehicle and placed him in handcuffs for the remainder of the investigation, according to the report.
A probable cause search was conducted and a clear glass jar with a green leafy substance was found in the passenger seat. A clear plastic baggie with a similar substance was in the center console. A multicolor “grinder” with more of the substance was in the passenger seat door. Throughout the center console, the officer found what appeared to be small pieces of marijuana known as “shake” and a couple brown cigar wrappers with the substance within. All items tested positive for THC, the report said.
The total weight of the marijuana was 22 grams. The “grinder” was suspected to be used for the storage and conversion of marijuana into flowery powder, according to the report.
The New York native was taken to the Lake County Jail, where he was released after posting $2,000 bond. He was also given a written warning for his expired registration.
